Lecture 1

Question 1

What is geomorphology the study of?

Answer 1

The shape of the surface on the Earth

Question 2

The shape of the landscape is determined by the balance between what?

Answer 2

Surface processes (exogenic processes) and Rock uplift

Question 3

What are surface processes?

Answer 3

All exogenic processes which which produce denudation (the removal of rocks). Denudation usually decreases elevation but increases relief. Denudation can be either mechanical (erosion) or chemical

Question 4

Name three agents of denudation?

Answer 4

Water, wind, ice

Question 5

What means are required to create denudation?

Answer 5

Gravitational energy (that makes things fall down) and solar radiation (water and atmospheric cycles)

Question 6

What do endogenic processes promote?

Answer 6

Rock uplift

Question 7

List three kinds of endogenic processes

Answer 7

Igneous activity, orogenesis (orogeny), Epeirogenesis (uplift or depression of the earth’s crust, affecting large areas of land or ocean bottom)

Question 8

Explain the feedback relationship surrounding rock uplift and surface processes

Answer 8

If SP>RU then elevation decreases
If SP<RU then elevation increases (surface uplift)
If SP=RU then landscape is in equilibrium and does not change

Question 9

Name two issues of inferring lithology from rock type

Answer 9

Outcrop pattern (bedding, jointing) and erosional resistance (how weather resistant the rock is)

Question 10

Define weathering with reference to both chemical and physical weathering

Answer 10

Weathering is a series of chemical and physical processes that act on a rock on the surface. Chemical processes release material in solution to create new minerals and physical processes break the rock into smaller pieces.

Question 11

Igenous rocks contain a range of structures, crystalline to glassy. How do they compare when eroded?

Answer 11

Crystalline normally resistant whereas glassy generally weatherable

Question 12

What is meant by weathering resistance?

Answer 12

The resistance of a given rock to be weathered by climatic conditions

Question 13

What is meant by erosional resistance?

Answer 13

Resistance of a given rock to being carried away. Dependent on altitude and slope.

Question 14

What effect does high drainage density have on rocks?

Answer 14

Rocks in areas of high drainage density show low infiltration capacity rocks and/or poorly structured soil

Question 15

What effect does low drainage density have on rocks?

Answer 15

Low drainage density results in more precipitation infiltrating causing fracturing and jointing in rocks and/or well structured soil